Arcadia High School boys cross country team's coach Jim O'Brien is profiled and is shown in photos with runners Esmond Wei, William Tsai, Ryan Vargas, Allen Leung, Francis Lee, Sergio Gonzalez and Eric Garibay.
In the wake of the firing of Arcadia High School cross country coach James O'Brien, twelve alumni, students and parents, have joined forces in an intensive effort to recall Arcadia Unified School District Board members Cung Nguyen, Kay Kinsler, and Lori Phillipi. The recall petition is headed by Esmond Wei. One issue is a list of O'Brien's alleged CIF violations that Arcadia High School formally sent to CIF officials. According to Wei, Arcadia High School's principal refused to let O'Brien see the letter. Wei said support for O'Brien is growing. See also p. 8 for related story.
Arcadia High School Apaches boys cross country team runs an impressive race at 63rd Annual Mt. SAC Invitational. The Arcadia High School team consists of Ammar Moussa, Allen Leung, Ryan Vargas, Francis Lee, William Tsai and Esmond Wei. Their run times are given.
The ad (open letter to the Arcadia community) that was paid for by the three members of the Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education who are targeted for recall--Cung Nguyen, lori Phillipi, and Kay Kinsler--was printed in the Pasadena Star News August 11, 2013. Fired Arcadia High School cross country coach James O'Brien and his supporters say the letter was a public relations bid to derail the recall effort. See hard copy of the letter in VF "Arcadia High School." See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1 and 27, August 15, 2013.
Arcadia High School reported CIF-SS rules violation before firing coach James O'Brien. CIF-SS spokesman Thom Simmons declined to elaborate on the notification. O'Brien's supporters have begun a recall campaign targeting Arcadia Unified School District board members Cung Nguyen, Lori Phillipi, and Kay Kinsler.
A new Arcadia Police Officer Sergio Machado is ready to protect and serve Arcadia. He had his ceremonial badge pinning last week after completing his 18-month probationary period.
Support grows to reinstate the suddenly fired Arcadia High School boys' cross country coach James O'Brien. He has led the Apaches cross country team to two state and two national titles in the last three years. More than 200 supporters attended the district board of education meeting.
Veronica Yamane, an Arcadia High School sophomore star of track and field, is CIF Athlete of the Week for being the Apaches' second-fastest girl in the 3,200 meter race after running at 11:08.48 in the rated portion of the Arcadia Invitational last Friday. Sergio Gonzalez of Arcadia High School is on the CIF "Honor Roll" for his run time of 9:05.33 in the 3,200 meter race.
Arcadia High School senior Sergio Gonzalez won the CIF State Division I championship race with the second fastest time of 15:05. His team, the Apaches, finished second, behind Trabuco Hills.
Arcadia local Roni Yamane is on the All-Area Track and Field first girls team. Alex McElwee and Sergio Gonzalez of Arcadia, are on the 2012 All-Area Track and Field first boys team.
The Board of Education welcomed Beverly Rodriguez, assistant principal at Roosevelt Junior High School in Glendale, as the new principal for First Avenue School.
Leonard Rodriguez, executive vice principal at St. Francis School in La Canada-Flintridge, has been named Assistant Principal of First Avenue Junior High School.
Arcadia High School boys Sergio Gonzalez (Runner of the Year), Ryan Vargas, Mitchell Pratt and Estevan DeLaRosa, have been named to 2011 All-Area Cross Country boys first team. James O'Brien of Arcadia High School, is named Coach of the Year. Francis Lee of Arcadia High School, is on the second team.
Three Arcadia High School students win First Place in Ninth Circuit 2018 Civics contest in the video competition. Their names are Veronica Yu, Cindy Law, Karen Thai.
Arcadia High School coach James O'Brien, who has led the cross country team to two CIF State and three CIF-Southern Section championships, has been fired. He was told the reason was, "We want to go in a different direction." He will remain a teacher at Arcadia High School.
Arcadia High School's Club Day is an annual event that showcases more than 60 Arcadia High School clubs and celebrates the diversity of its students' interests and passions.
A message supporting embattled former Arcadia High School cross country coach James O'Brien, sent by a concerned parent named Michael Yamane, was forwarded to the police by a school board member. Yamane's email urged the district to reconsider its firing of O'Brien, accuses district officials of abusing employees, lying about a CIF-SS investigation into O'Brien's program, and suggested officials might be breaking state law. Yamane is concerned about his constitutional right to free speech, after his email was forwarded to police. Yamane is also a proponent of the "Recall Arcadia" campaign, which seeks to recall three school board members.
Starting in 1993-1994, Arcadia High School will change its grading policy that awards an extra grade point to students taking honors classes. The new system will give no more weight to honors courses than to regular courses.
Representative David Dreier (R-San Dimas) announced his nominees for U.S. military academies. From Arcadia, he has nominated Alex Wei Lee and Gregory Mak for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.; Patrick Chen, Alex Wei Lee and Casey Thompson for the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD.; Kenneth Moore to U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.
All freshmen entering Arcadia High School are required to swim 50 yards and tread water for three minutes. Senior Justin Briggs was in danger of not graduating because he had not passed the swimming competency test. A doctor's excuse enabled him to graduate.